Karakteristik Pertumbuhan Desmanthus virgatus Terseleksi Media Salin terhadap Cekaman Tanah Masam

Abstract

Lahan marginal yang luas mengakibatkan kurang optimalnya produktivitas hijauan pakan ternak ruminansia di Indonesia. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengidentifikasi benih D. virgatus generasi M2 yang unggul pada cekaman tanah masam (pH 4,0) melalui nilai karakteristik pertumbuhan tanaman. Penelitian dilakukan di rumah kaca Laboratorium, Fakultas Peternakan, IPB University. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan 5 perlakuan, yaitu DM7, DM12, DM13, DM14, dan DM16 dengan satu kontrol. Parameter yang diamati meliputi viabilitas benih, daya bertahan hidup, karakteristik morfologi dan respon warna daun. Analisis data dilakukan secara deskriptif dengan uji normalitas Shapiro-Wilk. Hasil menunjukkan 3 tanaman (DM13.16, DM14.23, dan DM12.22) memiliki indeks konsentrasi morfologi >1,00, yang mencerminkan keunggulan adaptasi terhadap kondisi tanah masam. Tanaman DM13.16 menunjukkan performa terbaik dengan indeks tertinggi (1,70) serta warna daun hijau dominan, menandakan proses fotosintesis yang optimal.

Extensive marginal land results in suboptimal productivity of forage crops for ruminant livestock in Indonesia. This study aims to identify superior D. virgatus M2 generation seeds under acidic soil conditions (pH 4.0) based on plant growth characteristics. The research was conducted in the greenhouse of the Laboratory, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University. The study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments: DM7, DM12, DM13, DM14, and DM16, plus one control. Parameters observed included seed viability, survival rate, morphological characteristics, and leaf color response. Data analysis was performed descriptively using the Shapiro-Wilk normality test. The results showed that 3 plants (DM13.16, DM14.23, and DM12.22) had a morphological concentration index >1.00, indicating superior adaptation to acidic soil conditions. The DM13.16 plant exhibited the best performance with the highest index (1.70) and dominant green leaf color, indicating optimal photosynthesis.